Asher James was born November 21 at 12:02pm. He was 8 pounds 10 ounces and 21.5 inches long. Here is his birth story:)
As most of my friends and family know, I REALLY wanted to go into labor on my own this time. But I wasn't going to be hard headed about it if and when the time came and I needed to be induced. I told my mom that IF I HAD to choose a birthday for Asher, I would agree to November 21. My oldest's birthday falls on the 23rd and my second's is on a 22nd and my birthday number is 24:) I'm weird like that. At my 40 week doctor's appointment my doctor asked me what I wanted to do. She said, "you are the driver of this boat. If you want to wait, we'll wait. It's your call." Isn't she great?:) We agreed to go ahead and schedule the induction for that Thursday, November 21. This was Monday. After that appointment, I did everything I could possibly do to try to encourage him to come. It's really quite funny! I jumped, did squats, walked, walked, walked, took primrose oil, drank raspberry leaf tea, and the list goes on! On Wednesday night I decided to rub clary sage oil on my ankles and I believe it worked! That night I woke up having pretty steady contractions. I couldn't sleep until about 3am and I had to wake up at 4am to get ready to go to the hospital! When I got to the hospital that morning I was having contractions every 8 minutes. I was also at 3cm. Everything with in me wanted to run out of the hospital and just wait to see what my body was going to do! But in the end, I let them start the pitocin. They actually started me on a pretty low dose and only upped it once.
They started the pitocin around 8:00a, maybe 8:30a. The contractions got stronger, but were still manageable to me. Aaron and I played a round of Skip Bo during this time;) The nurses would come in to replace the heart rate monitors and ask me how I was doing. They asked "on a scale of 1-10 what would you rate your pain level?". I'm so bad at this! Anyone else?? I told them probably a 3 or 4, but it does feel like knives are stabbing my insides (haha). I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance. My doctor came in a little while later and said she didn't want to break my water yet and that she would be back to check my progress and we could decide then if we would. When she came back, I was still 3cm but 85% effaced so I decided to let her break my water. Another thing I thought I wouldn't do this time, but I just felt like it was best and that I wanted to be in that room for the least amount of time possible. After she broke my water the contractions got a little harder, but they still didn't leave me in agony or anything. Around this time they also upped the pitocin. To manage through the contractions I tried a couple of different techniques. What worked for me the most was standing and rocking my hips back and forth. I would lean on Aaron with my hands around his neck and it was the best thing ever! It's funny but the smell of him comforted me. I also sat in a rocking chair and did the same thing. I wish I would have brought a birthing ball because I know that would have been better. My doctor came in some time later (I'm not sure on the time) and I was at 5cm. I think this was the last time she checked me before it was time for me to push. Aaron and I tried to play another game of Skip Bo and I just wasn't interested at this point. I had my mom turn on Bethel's The Loft Sessions album around this time as well. That album is wonderful, but it was even more wonderful during my labor!! With each contraction I would focus on the song and relax. There was such a peace and calm in the room. Every nurse that came in always looked shocked at how peaceful I was and even commented on the music. We became pretty well known at the hospital, I think, because of this. I also wasn't receiving any pain meds which everyone was astounded by as well. I even had a nurse share her testimony with me as I was being transferred to my room after delivery!
Around 11:15 or so I started having very strong and hard contractions. They weren't closer together, but stayed steady....maybe even a little further apart. After probably two really hard ones I started to think that I didn't know how many more of those I could take. I started giving Aaron the "epidural eyes" (lol). I asked Aaron to go ask the nurse when my doctor would be back to check me again. When he went to the hall I had another HARD contraction. I knew it was getting close. When Aaron came back in I think I had one more very hard contraction and a sensation and feeling of just knowing it was time. I also made sounds that I couldn't hold back. I didn't really scream, but it was kind of a moaning that I can't explain. I told Aaron, "Go tell the nurse to get Dr. Mason because he's coming!" He went out in the hall again and told the nurse that I thought it was time and the nurse asked him "Is this her first child?" When Aaron told her it was my third they all started scrambling to call my doctor ...LOL! A nurse then came in and had me lay on the bed so she could check me and she said "Oh yea, she's ready. I can feel his head." This is one of the moments I will never forget. I remember it with each of my boys. It's a little different this time because I could feel everything in the moment though. When a nurse or doctor says "it's time", it's like the whole world stands still. I just have this feeling of, here it goes, here's what I've been waiting 9 months for. To meet my little man and experience his birth story. After my doctor came in, she agreed that I was ready to push. I don't know how many pushes it took. All I know is that for me this was the hardest part of the birthing experience. Probably because I had never delivered with out an epidural. I had gotten almost there before, but had never pushed with out it. One of the nurses was so sweet and as we were waiting for the doctor to come in and everything to get set up, she held my hand and just said "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" over and over. It felt like it took forever, but it was really under 20 min and Asher was born. I looked out and saw my little guy with arms outstretched so beautiful. She laid him on me and I loved on him right then....cheese skin and all! lol It's like your heart expands and almost explodes with love for the new person in your life in that moment. I told my doctor before hand that I wanted to let the cord pulse out and so when she laid him on me she waited to cut the cord. Because of this I believe that's why he transitioned so well. His apgar score was 9 and the nurses in the nursery said he was the pinkest baby they'd seen all day! He also has/had amazing head control for a newborn and is a super nurser! It may be because this is my third baby to nurse, but he latches on so easily it's amazing.
Aaron was such a great cheerleader for me! When I thought I couldn't do it, he told me I could and kept me grounded. I'm so proud of him! When Addison was born, it was such a different experience and Aaron turned white as a sheet and almost passed out! With Ian he did wonderful, but this time he stepped up to the plate even more. Since having Asher he has done nothing but pamper me and make sure I am well. I cannot tell you all of what he has done. I'm so proud to call him mine:)
Asher is such a sweet baby! I'm so thankful for him and to God for answering my prayers and the desires of my heart. In the end I got a little pitocin, but he is happy and healthy and was born in the presence of the Lord, so what more could I ask for?
A friend of mine came and took a few pics after he was born. Check them out! She's amazing!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.749259835087484.1073741855.591600304186772&type=3Asher's Birth Photos
